Enough Is Enough

People (February 4, 2008) probably wasn't going for a message of resolute heterosexuality, but "Straight Aames" works well in that regard as the title of their Willie Aames profile. "Bibleman"—for whom Evangelical Christianity is just the latest in a long line of addictions he's had—is promoting his new autobiography Grace Is Enough. In it, he remembers being molested by a man at a drive-in movie when he was 11. Sad, but quickly just weird when he writes:

"I can still feel the stubble of beard that scratched until I was nearly raw."

This paints an unnecessarily graphic, unintentionally comic image and begs the question, "Where, Willie, where?" I'd be lying if I said I cared too much. When people have tragic lives as he has, I'm sympathetic. But when their answer is to wrap themselves in Biblical superiority, I go back to neutral.

Also strange: Wife Maylo (a co-author of the book) states that she "didn't know until I read the book" about Willie's abuse. Is it cool not to tell your partner something that major? Maybe, if you're not able. But is it cool not to tell her...and then to hand her the manuscript of your co-authored book and just let her read it and weep? Just ask yourself: What would Dick Van Patten do?